135 plus two students made to spend night on tour bus; school picnic group not given enough facilities; Human Rights Commission with action

KOCHI: Justice Alexander Thomas, chairperson of the Human Rights Commission, to take strong action on the complaint that 135 plus two students who went on a picnic from Aluva SNDP Higher Secondary School to Kodaikanal suffered hell on the way. The order said that the state transport commissioner should assign the concerned RTO to conduct a detailed and effective investigation into the complaint. The transport commissioner should direct that the RTO's investigation report be submitted to the commission within three weeks.

The RTO's opinion on whether there were lapses severe enough to cancel the permit/licence of the tour operators responsible for the incident should also be submitted to the commission, the order said. Aluva SNDP Higher Secondary School Principal should also submit a report. As soon as the report is received, the case will be considered at the sitting to be held in Ernakulam.

According to the complaint, the tour package conducting firm was not ready to provide accommodation in Kodaikanal to the group, which left early on Friday morning. The group, which stayed on the bus, was then taken to Ooty. According to the complaint, only facilities to perform basic necessities were provided in Ooty.
The action was taken in a case registered suo motu by the commission based on a newspaper report.